Please take a moment to view our 20th Anniversary Video.
The history of platinum, one of the modern world’s rarest and most expensive metals, dates back to ancient Egypt over 2500 years ago when it was used to adorn the coffin of an Egyptian high priest. The precious metal literally exploded during WWII when the government restricted its use to the military in the manufacture of nitric acid, a principal component of explosive-grade ammonium nitrate. Because it symbolizes strength and resilience, platinum is widely used today to commemorate a 20-year union or milestone. With pride, Smart HR is celebrating its platinum year providing world-class human resources services to its clients in the DC-metro area.
When Smart HR CEO, Mark Stevenson, founded the company in 2000, he saw an opportunity to fill a void in the human resources’ services market. Small to medium-sized companies focusing on growing their business didn’t really have the resources to justify an internal HR department and could benefit from outsourcing their HR function. He wanted to create a company with like-minded HR professionals who could fill that void and provide a client experience that prioritized innovation, cutting-edge HR solutions, exemplary customer service and, perhaps most importantly, happy employees. When reflecting on the past 20 years, Mark has remained true to his vision:
Over the past twenty years, it has been rewarding to help our clients create better places to work for their employees. High impact HR is really pretty simple. If organizations establish programs and a culture where employees feel valued, important and included, employees will be more invested and committed to doing their best work. This is the biggest differentiator between average organizations and those that thrive. People spend the majority of their waking hours at work, and we strive to make that time as rewarding and productive as possible.
Over the past two decades, like platinum, Smart HR’s brand has become synonymous with strength, integrity and value.
Strength
Smart HR’s success can largely be attributed to the strength of its consultants. Smart HR consultants each have over 15 years of HR management experience and usually have professional HR certifications. Many hold advanced degrees in Human Resource Management or Organizational Development. The screening process to become a Smart HR consultant is rigorous, and less than 2% of the HR professionals who interview are hired.
Smart HR consultants have diverse backgrounds as HR Directors, Executive Recruiters, Benefits and Compensation Specialists and Training and Development Managers among other high-level HR positions. Mark spends a considerable amount of time ensuring a good “fit” between a consultant and client, and those partnerships usually last resulting in continuity and consistency, key to Smart HR’s success. Annually, over 97% of Smart HR clients remain with the same Smart HR consultant, and several relationships have lasted more than 10 years and are still going strong.
Integrity
Platinum, known as a “noble metal,” doesn’t tarnish or corrode and neither does Smart HR. 20 years of doing what is promised in a transparent and trustworthy manner has led to Smart HR’s stellar reputation within the local business community. Integrity is at the heart of all of Smart HR’s business interactions. Even if it means having to make a difficult decision or provide unpopular advice, Smart HR consultants will always act in the best interest of their clients.
Value
For the past 20 years, Smart HR has provided real value to its clients through cost savings and HR expertise. By outsourcing its HR function, an organization can expect to save 50% over staffing and maintaining an in-house HR department. Because Smart HR consultants spend a considerable amount of time at client sites, the client’s staff still benefits from the “human” side of human resources. Through two decades of working with over 80 DC-metro area organizations, both large and small, Smart HR is in the unique position to offer its clients extensive, industry-specific best practices and benchmarking data. It is hard to quantify the value of that knowledge. Whether it is compensation, benefits, paid time off or any other employment practice, Smart HR consultants can pull from a vast network of expertise.
Here’s to a Bright Future with Smart HR
As Smart HR celebrates this important milestone, we want to express gratitude to all our business associates with whom we have forged meaningful partnerships and engaged in thoughtful collaboration. It’s been an honor working alongside our clients toward our shared mission of making the workplace a little more welcoming for all, where people feel appreciated and supported in their everyday endeavors. The past 20 years have shown that Smart HR’s strength, integrity and value are enduring. Thank you for choosing Smart HR and allowing us to be your trusted HR advisor.
